Research Essay

GSSC 1040 Understanding Violence Against Women Partners

Research Essay Value: 20% Due Date: Please see Course Outline

You have an opportunity to research a topic of your own choosing that relates to an issue addressed in the course. You will be able to explore, through research and through your own reflections, a sub-topic within the larger topic of "violence against women partners," in more detail than is otherwise possible during the course.

This assignment is submitted to me via the Research Essay link under the Assignments tab on the side menu. Make sure to press Submit after attaching your document. Please use Word 2003 or later Power-point to compose your essay or presentation. If you choose the essay option please ensure the following 1.15 or 1.5 spacing, with 1-inch margins. Please make sure to include your name and student # at the beginning of your essay. I will send you a confirmation email when I have received and downloaded your essay. If you don’t get a confirmation email it means I have not received the assignment! I will include comments in your essay and return it to you via this link. Length: 1,200 to 2,000 words

If you choose the power-point option, you can use power-point or prezi to great a presentation.

Please make sure to include your name and student # at the beginning of your presentation. I will require all your speakers’ notes. The notes will include your opinion as well as information from your research. You will be required to have source citation for the information in your presentation.

Sources: A minimum of three hard-copy or online information sources (e.g. books, magazines, journals, longer newspaper articles) are required. Your research sources should be ones that are established and reliable, and that include facts and experience based conclusions and analysis. Please avoid using entertainment publications, social media sources, and Wikipedia for your research.

Use an established referencing system (MLA or APA). Try these sites. They are excellent guides to each system. MLA: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/

APA: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/research/r_apa.html>

There should be a Works Cited and Bibliography list. Make sure to cite your sources throughout the essay when stating facts or opinions.

Remember to include an introductory paragraph that tells me what your topic is, why you’ve chosen it, and what you intend to prove or show through using your research (thesis statement). Each major point you make that supports your thesis should be a paragraph that includes the findings from your research and any additional thoughts you have about it. Make at least 3 major points. Then end with a concluding paragraph that summarizes your findings and your conclusions about the topic.

· If you are doing the presentation ensure that you include an agenda and tell me what your topic is, why you have chosen and what you intend to prove. Your agenda should lay out the topics are areas that you are going to discuss. Your discussion will include findings from your research as well as any additional thoughts. End your presentation with your finding and a conclusion.

Your comments and observations should include and be supported by the factual information such as statistics or research you find in your sources. You must use quotes or in text citations when using information from one of your sources. You should identify when you are expressing an opinion or conclusion (“in my opinion ...”, I believe ...”, “this evidence shows that…”), and always support your opinions and conclusions with facts and information from your sources. You can use sources from the

course, and course notes, as sources where appropriate. Your analysis should be consistent with the perspective and framework used in the course.

I’m expecting that you will show an understanding of how systemic issues such as sexism, lack of social supports (housing, childcare), discrimination, poverty and others impact on the issue you’re discussing. Remember to answer all questions included in the topic you choose.

It’s always a good idea to ask someone to have a look at your paper before you submit it, to get some feedback on how clear and logical your paper is, whether you’ve shown your thesis to be true and supported by evidence, and any spelling or grammar mistakes there might be.

Research Essay/Power-point Presentation Rubric

The Rubric that I will use to mark your assignment is linked in the assignment area. I will use it to evaluate your essay/power-point presentation and assign your mark. Take a look at it to see expectations for Grammar and Spelling, Content of the essay, use and listing of Resources, and Clarity and Organization.

Research Essay Topics

You may choose from the topics on the following list, or you may choose your own. If you do decide to choose your own topic, be sure to check in with the professor before you begin your research.

LAW

(a) Are the current laws in Ontario adequate enough to protect women against being abused by their partners? If they are, why are abuse statistics still so high? If they are not, what kinds of changes in law are needed?

(b) What can be done to make sure offenders never assault again? How are current responses working? Are there other strategies we should be thinking about?

(c) How can Canada best help women in other countries be protected from abuse?

(d) Within the last three decades, what has happened to women who have killed their abusers? How did they defend themselves in court? What have been the outcomes of their charges/trials? You can refer to Canadian or International cases.

HEALTH

a) What is currently being done within the health care system to prevent and respond to abuse against women partners? What other strategies can the Canadian health system adopt to prevent or stop violence against women?

b) Discuss how social determinants of health (income level, immigration status, age, disability, etc.) impact women’s experience of partner abuse. How can healthcare systems respond in ways that address these determinants?

SOCIETAL SUPPORTS/ISSUES

a) What types of social support systems are in place (in Ontario) to stop or prevent violence against women? What gaps in services still exist that need to be in place to assist all women to leaving abusive relationships?

b) What kinds of programs or educational resources exist to prevent violence against women partners? How can the educational system be more proactive in stopping or preventing violence against women?

MEDIA

a) How does media promote or discourage violence against women? Be specific about what media you are researching (print, social media, video games, popular culture, etc.) What could change in that media or how could it contribute to preventing violence against women?

CHILDREN

a) How does violence against women partners affect children? What are the best ways to help children who have been exposed to violence in their home?

WORKPLACE ISSUES

a) How have employers, unions and/or governments responded to violence against women in the workplace?